Vatican eyes possible papal trips to Korea, Asia nations

Published: 24 January 2014

A possible Papal trip to South Korea for an Asian youth gathering in August is under consideration as are invitations to the Philippines and Sri Lanka, the Vatican spokesman said, reports the Catholic News Service.

'It's true,' an invitation for Pope Francis to visit South Korea, 'is being studied,' but the Vatican is not ready to confirm the trip will take place nor announce dates, Fr Federico Lombardi told journalists this week.

He said the possible trip to Korea would be to coincide with the 4th Asian Youth Day in Daejeon, South Korea, which is scheduled for August 10-17.

Fr Lombardi also said: 'It's true there are invitations' for the Pope to visit the Philippines and Sri Lanka and that a possible trip to those countries is being studied, 'but it is not for this year.'

Pope Francis had told reporters on July 28 during a flight back to Rome from Brazil, his first foreign journey, that 'Papal trips are always good.'

The Pope had said he already had invitations to go to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. 'I must go to Asia,' he said, because Pope Benedict XVI did not manage to visit the continent in his eight-year pontificate and Asia 'is important.'